AIS Transmit options?

[matt1]

I have a typical new boat B&G set up from 2018; VHF50, Zeus3 plotter, Triton 2 instruments and and an NSPL splitter. However it has AIS rx (rather than tx) which comes from the VHF - via the splitter (which is odd as I don't believe that was necessary - it may be a TX was fitted at some point in the build process but subsequently removed!)

Talking at the boat show, the consensus seemed to be to just fit any AIS tx box and plug into the splitter and then tell the Zeus to filter out my own MMSI - simple. However the recommended B&G/Raymarine/Vespa variants are circa £540 and I found a Digital Yacht AIT1500, that currently comes with a free AIS antenna for £399. I'm thinking I may just fit that as a standalone unit, with the supplied aerial on the pushpit (I accept range will be diminished). It has the benefit of some redundancy with the VHF aerial acting as a spare. Am I missing something? Is there any health risk in sitting next to a stubby aerial pumping out my position data? Is there a reason why the digital yacht AIS is so much cheaper? (they do a NMEA 2000 and 0183 versions but I wouldn't be networking it to anything so I guess that is irrelevant)

 

[pvb]

Firstly, there's no health risk from sitting next to a stubby AIS antenna. Some people will no doubt say your antenna should be higher to get better transmitting range, but remember that the ships which you want to alert will have high receiving antenna and so will pick you up (if they're watching) in lots of time.

The AIT1500 is probably cheap because it's NMEA0183 only; many people today want NMEA2000 connectivity.

You might consider selling your NSPL splitter on eBay as it's apparently not needed.

 

[matt1]

Thanks - Hadn't thought about selling the splitter, but may just leave well alone since I know it's working and I am getting AIS on the plotter. Interestingly the Digital yacht AIS price is the same for either NMEA2000 or NMEA0183. Think I will get NMEA2000 just in case I want to connect it to anything else in the future. Following the redundancy route, it could I guess become a 2nd GPS

 

[Norman_E]

You have an NMEA2000 chartplotter that will display AIS targets as an overlay on your chart screen, so you should buy an NMEA2000 AIS. Have you considered the Em-trac B100 transceiver?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks - Hadn't thought about selling the splitter, but may just leave well alone since I know it's working and I am getting AIS on the plotter. Interestingly the Digital yacht AIS price is the same for either NMEA2000 or NMEA0183. Think I will get NMEA2000 just in case I want to connect it to anything else in the future. Following the redundancy route, it could I guess become a 2nd GPS

If you are going to leave the splitter you may as well use it. I'd fit the Em-trac B100 transceiver that Norman mentioned and connect it to the splitter and the N2K network.

https://www.prscomms.co.uk/webshop/ais-transponders/1266-em-trak-b100-ais.html

 

[dolabriform]

If you are going to leave the splitter you may as well use it. I'd fit the Em-trac B100 transceiver that Norman mentioned and connect it to the splitter and the N2K network.

https://www.prscomms.co.uk/webshop/ais-transponders/1266-em-trak-b100-ais.html

+ 1 for the emtrak. easy to setup and has multiple output formats

 

[Rich T]

+ 1 for the emtrak. easy to setup and has multiple output formats

Yes, +1. Nice neat unit, had mine two seasons now, works well.

 

[adri_cubs]

If you are going to leave the splitter you may as well use it. I'd fit the Em-trac B100 transceiver that Norman mentioned and connect it to the splitter and the N2K network.

https://www.prscomms.co.uk/webshop/ais-transponders/1266-em-trak-b100-ais.html

Without reading all comments, that is what I have and very happy with it, but it transmits on NMEAxxx83, not 2000 if I remember correctly.

Also, some splitters transmit and receive, and some receive only so chances are that you will need a new splitter (sorry if stated in prev comments)

 

[dolabriform]

Without reading all comments, that is what I have and very happy with it, but it transmits on NMEAxxx83, not 2000 if I remember correctly.

Also, some splitters transmit and receive, and some receive only so chances are that you will need a new splitter (sorry if stated in prev comments)

The Emtrak B100 will output NMEA 0183 & 2000, plus a USB connection to a Mac / PC

 

[pvb]

https://www.prscomms.co.uk/webshop/ais-transponders/1266-em-trak-b100-ais.html

The em-trak B100 is only £360 at F&C Marine - https://www.fcmarine.co.uk/product/em-trak-b100-ais-class-b-includeing-gps-antenna/

It's a good unit, designed and made in Europe, waterproof, and a 3 year global warranty.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Without reading all comments, that is what I have and very happy with it, but it transmits on NMEAxxx83, not 2000 if I remember correctly.

Also, some splitters transmit and receive, and some receive only so chances are that you will need a new splitter (sorry if stated in prev comments)

The Em-Trac supports 0183, N2k and USB.

The OP will not need a new splitter, he already has one that is transceiver compatible.

I didn't just pluck a random recommendation from the air.

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Bear in mind that the units others have listed here are the older standard rather than the new SOTDMA which has slightly increased transmission power and a better transmission rate.

 

[pvb]

Bear in mind that the units others have listed here are the older standard rather than the new SOTDMA which has slightly increased transmission power and a better transmission rate.

Would the average leisure boater notice much difference?

 

[matt1]

If you are going to leave the splitter you may as well use it. I'd fit the Em-trac B100 transceiver that Norman mentioned and connect it to the splitter and the N2K network.

https://www.prscomms.co.uk/webshop/ais-transponders/1266-em-trak-b100-ais.html

Great - thanks - and presumably I could use the NMEA0183 to push lat / long to my old Furuno NX300 navtex, whislt sending the N2K to the network for the plotter (AIS data)

 

[dolabriform]

Great - thanks - and presumably I could use the NMEA0183 to push lat / long to my old Furuno NX300 navtex, whislt sending the N2K to the network for the plotter (AIS data)

Yes that should work. I send the N183 to my VHF and the N2K to the network without any problems, just remember to make sure you are outputting the NMEA0183 at the correct speed for the Navtex. You can do this in the setup utility.

 

[pvb]

Great - thanks - and presumably I could use the NMEA0183 to push lat / long to my old Furuno NX300 navtex, whislt sending the N2K to the network for the plotter (AIS data)

In post 1, you said your plotter already gets AIS data from your VHF, so no need to change that aspect.

 

[matt1]

In post 1, you said your plotter already gets AIS data from your VHF, so no need to change that aspect.

Ah! yes, I did...but forgot to update following project creep to say I am now thinking of adding a Vulcan plotter at the chart table There a particularly good price at Hudson with 3G radar at the mo

I gather the Vulcan and Zeus will network, but not well, and I can't justify the extra for a second Zeus whose functionality I won't fully exploit. If I went this route, and continuing my redundancy theme, I would have two systems (Vulcan and Em-trac AIS TX & RX) and (Zeus and VHF50 AIS RX) and would have a total of 3, yes, that's "3" GPS devices If I add in the Pushpit antenna as originally proposed I'd even have redundancy there too ;-)

I realise this is all overkill, but am just looking maximise (ok, justify!) value from the purchase of a 2nd plotter and AIS. I could just plug the new AIS in at the splitter and disable the VHF50 AIS function but it won't cost me any more to in effect have two separate systems, albeit one TX/RX and one just RX

 

[Mikedefieslife]

Would the average leisure boater notice much difference?

I'm not sure. The average leisure boater to me is someone making passages and off out exploring, so in that scenario it is probably beneficial for tacking and alarm purposes.

If the OP potters about for a few hours on a weekend then presumably he doesn't need AIS at all, or just the most basic system if he's close to land.

 

[matt1]

I'm not sure. The average leisure boater to me is someone making passages and off out exploring, so in that scenario it is probably beneficial for tacking and alarm purposes.

If the OP potters about for a few hours on a weekend then presumably he doesn't need AIS at all, or just the most basic system if he's close to land.

Does that mean the newer variants would have longer range for people on shore tracking me? And what extra alarm functions are there with the newer type? Not really seeing the benefits tbh

I single hand across the channel, including at night so AIS is important to me

 

[matt1]

Thanks for all the recommendations for the Em-Trac B100 which I have now bought. £372 delivered for an AIS tx, what is there not to like?

I'm no longer going to fit a 2nd chart plotter...so keeping things simple; can I leave the VHF connected to the splitter and the chartplotter (Directly / or via the N2K bus - I'm not to sure on current set up) as this is currently providing AIS RX to the plotter and works nicely.

And then do I simply plug in the Em-Trac to the splitter and use it solely to TX rather than as an RX? If I connect the Em-Trac to the N2k bus (which at least is simple to do) will it get power from there or will I still need to connect the +/-

I don't think I need to network the Em-Trac, but if I do connect it to the N2k bus will it cause confusion on the network?

To give the complete picture, I also want to take NMEA 0183 to the Navtex to display lat/long

Apologies for all the questions but I am coming from Raymarine ST60 era which was all rather simple by comparison ;-)

Thanks